Chargers' Brandon Mebane on Justin Jones: 'Going to be a Pro Bowler'

The Chargers had a desperate need for a defensive tackle who can make an impact against both the run and pass. Brandon Mebane underperformed in 2017 and Corey Liuget is suspended for the first four games of the 2018 season.

Third-round selection DT Justin Jones will be able to provide the team just that Day 1, and his teammate, Mebane thinks highly of him as well based on his remarks to the media after Tuesday’s training camp.

“I think Justin Jones is a great player. He’s one of those guys that I’ve seen in my 12 years that I think is going to have a great future ahead of him. I think eventually he’s going to be a Pro Bowler,” Mebane said.

The former North Carolina State product is capable of playing on all three downs with his versatile skill set. Jones will primarily start out rotating with DT Darius Philon to begin the 2018 season due to the absence of Liuget. But, he has shown the ability to play nose tackle as well, which will allow him to rotate in with Mebane in sub packages. Jones brings a disciplined run defender and powerful pass rusher to defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s defense that should see an improvement in this area from prior seasons’ struggles.